Query Strings - Tracked?

Are query strings tracked with software or logs?

[itrainu]

I have just started doing my research on tracking and have a big question, but because I am unsure of the correct terminology, have not found the information I seek in the archives!

I noticed a website which advertises in newsletters, other websites, etc. Depending on from where you click on the link, the url changes slightly. ie.:

http://abc.com/page.cfm/1759?a=ad1
http://abc.com/page.cfm/1759

I am assuming that a=whatever indicates the referrer? Is this known as a query string? Do logs indicate this information or does only certain software indicate this information?

Thanks - and feel free to point me to existing articles if this has already been hashed ;-)

itrainu

[mdharrold]

All logs I have ever seen do show the query string.
Here [netmechanic.com] is a fair explination of reading log files.

[Hannu]

[quote]I am assuming that a=whatever indicates the referrer?[/quote]

In this particular case I think the a=whatever is a mean of keeping track of different referrers.

[quote]Is this known as a query string?[/quote]

Technically yes. By adding a "fake" query string you can keep track of different sources for the same destination, eg. the url for this thread:

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum39/355.htm?sun=shining_thing

[LeClair]

There is a handy little free script on solutionscripts.com called top referes.

It is tracking referers with query string and even logs the searched for keywords of certain searchengines.

[itrainu]

Thanks for the links! Great info!

itrainu